China-Russia relationship viewed from two 'largest'

In August this year, China-Russia cooperation in specific fields presents a two "largest" situation. Firstly, the China-Russia joint military exercise--"peace mission-- 2005", thus far on the largest scale of its kind, begins to take place on August 18 in Vladivostok of the Russian Federation and in China's Shandong Peninsula as well as in nearby sea area. Secondly, China-Russia joint investigation activity so far on the largest scale--survey on Lake Baikal, known as the "natural laboratory", was held on August 13. When associating this with Chinese President Hu Jintao's recent fruitful visit to Russia, people feel the continual strong pulse of the development of Sino-Russian relationship.

The main purpose of the joint military exercise is to deepen China-Russia mutual trust, enhance mutual friendship, strengthen cooperation and coordination between the two countries and two armies in defense and security fields, carry out drills in common attacks by the two armies on international terrorism, extremism and separatism, strengthen organization and coordination in coping with crises, and improve their abilities to jointly meet new challenges and new threats.

The objects of research for the joint investigation are the water and planktons in Lake Baikal, and proceed to study the ancient climate and ancient environment of the Eurasian continent and, through research on the sensitive areas of Lake Baikal and its location Siberia, the universally acknowledged global climatic change, and master the law governing global climatic change.

This is what is called "expecting the reality to correspond to the name". The two "largest" is enriching the connotation of the already established strategic cooperative partnership, which is a concrete expression of the two countries' highly political mutual trust relationship.

Bilateral mutual trust is based on their common interests. Their common will to safeguard their own sovereignty and territorial integrity, their common responsibility to maintain regional security and stability, their common need to expand the space for their own economic development, and their common wish to establish a fair and reasonable international political and economic new order--ll these bring before the two countries the heavy responsibility to develop themselves and create a favorable surrounding environment. These common points have helped the two large neighboring countries to constantly engage in mutual communication, collaboration and coordination.

Thus far, China has given Russia resolute support to Russia in its actions of attacking terrorism and its defense of sovereignty, Russia, in turn, has expressed its firm stance of support to China in its efforts for realization of national reunification and opposition to secessionism. It can be said that respect and support for each other's core interests are the most fundamental base for maintaining high political mutual trust.

All-round, mutually beneficial cooperation brings benefits to the Chinese and Russian peoples. After the general framework for the strategic cooperative partnership has been clearly defined, China-Russia relationship has switched to the stage of the main tasks of tamping the foundation, implementing the agreement and solving specific problems.

True, the two countries' respective strategic consideration, national characteristics, cultural backgrounds and historical origins would still lead to the existence of differences and problems between the two sides in some aspects, but the foundation of common interests can determine the future of the smooth development of bilateral ties.

Only by consolidating the social foundation of bilateral relations, is it possible to ensure friendship for generations to come. Leaders of the two nations have determined that following the "Chinese-Russian youth friendship year" held by the two sides last year, the "Russia Year" will be held in China in 2006, and the "China Year" will be held in Russia in 2007. That is aimed at furthering mutual understanding and traditional friendship of the two peoples.

In addition, cooperation between neighboring regions on the two sides of the over 4,300 km-long common boundary of the two countries has opened a new page in the annals of the two countries under the personal promotion by top leaders of the two nations. Such persistent efforts provide an important guarantee for the two sides to become permanent good neighbors, good friends and good partners.

The two "largest" in August has corroborated the common evaluation made by heads of state of China and Russia: China-Russia relationship has reached an unprecedented level. It is predicable that China-Russia relationship will continue to head for a new height.

By People's Daily Online